Project Management: Planning and Control Techniques - Essay Example

Project Planning 3- Managerial Process Plans This section is about the technology dynamics new project’s planning process that is for the Unique Boutique. This section presents a detailed analysis of some of the main aspects such as planning and managing the Unique Boutique’s new contracted software development, upgrading the project, and implementing the customer database system. The new technology based addition in the business will be an updated database that will keep track of all the customers’ information (e.g. names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of purchases, types of purchases, etc.). 3.1- Start-up Plan 3.1.1- Estimates In course of overall new business setup implementation the Unique Boutique has scheduled for a grand reopening of the store on May 24, 2010. Thus, by considering all these aspects we will plan the overall project. 3.1.2-Estimation Technologies To estimate the overall time plans of the project we will use the CPA (Critical Path Analysis) technique, which is commonly used for the estimation of the appropriate time line in the project planning. This will also help us in handling and deploying the project resources. 3.1.3-Time Estimation According to specification of the Unique Boutique management this project should not take more than 90 days. Unique Boutique has specified that this time line states exactly after the award of the contract for the overall technology development. As I have estimated and analyzed the nature of the project, I have found that this time line is enough for the completion of the overall project, i.e. development of the new customer database. 3.1.4-Cost Estimation According to specification of the Unique Boutique management this present project should be completed within budget of $10,000. In other words, that project completion should not take more than $10,000. 3.1.5-Resource Estimate The present project will require effective human resource for the management of the overall project. In this scenario the main human resources that will be needed are: The Project Manager The Database Developer The Software Engineer The Scheduler The Trainer 3.1.6- Hardwar resource P4 Computers Data Servers Printers 3.2 Staffing In this overall database development project we will require a staff of 5 people. This project team will work together to achieve the potential goals of the project. 3.2.1- Staff Role Specification Required staff Responsibilities The Project Manager To manage the project in an effective way The Database Developer Will develop the overall database of the corporate. The Software Engineer Software Engineer will develop the database application. In this development he will develop a fit between the application and database. The Scheduler Will schedule the project for the corporation. The Trainer Trainer will train the staff at corporation for usage and handling of the system. 3.2.2- Resource Acquisition For the resource acquisition firm will hire a technical consultant who will be responsible for managing the purchase of different equipment for the corporation. In this scenario the corporation’s technical consultant will survey the business and assess the main needs of new technology platform implementation. In this scenario he will build a requirements list. After that we will create a contract for all technology products to an outside technology vendor. These products will be acquired on established some effective deals. 3.3- Project Staff Training 3.3.1- Training information Unique Boutique’s staff will require training to use the new technology based equipment regarding working and handling of the new technology. In this scenario, the customer services and sales management staff will be trained. In addition, we will train approximately ten people for usage of system and handling the corporation’s and customer information. In this overall training process we will use the training manual for offering a better insight into the functionality of different system components. 3.3.2- Types of training Training of Unique Boutique staff will be offered in the following areas: System working How to manage the Information Report generation Database backup/restore Safety of data Troubleshooting Database analysis 4- Work Plan 4.1- Work Breakdown Structure Project Activity Time Plan Cost Task Dependencies Staff Needed Weekly cost (per week ) Requirement 10 days $1, 000.00     $142.86 User interview and meetings 5 days $500.00   Project Manager, Technical Consultant, System Analyzer $71.43 Take functional non-functional requirement 5 days $500.00 2 Project Manager, Technical Consultant, System Analyzer $71.43 Design 10 days $1, 000.00 1   $142.86 Functional Specifications 1 days $200.00   Project Manager, Technical Consultant, System Analyzer $28.57 Technical Specifications 2 days $200.00 5 Project Manager, Technical Consultant, System Analyzer $28.57 Database Design 5 days $500.00 6 Project Manager, Technical Consultant, System Analyzer $71.43 Interfaces Design 2 days $100.00 7 Project Manager, Technical Consultant, System Analyzer $14.29 Development 35 days $4, 500.00 4   $642.86 System Front End 10 days $1, 000.00   Project Manager, System developer, System Designer $142.86 Database 10 days $2, 000.00 10 Project Manager, System developer, System Designer $285.71 Back-End system Coding 10 days $1, 000.00 11 Project Manager, System developer, System Designer $142.86 Reports 5 days $500.00 12 Project Manager, System developer, System Designer $71.43 Quality Assurance 10 days $1, 000.00 9   $142.86 Verify design and functionality 2 days $500.00   Project Manager, System developer, Quality Assurance Staff $71.43 Perform Integration Test 2 days $300.00 15 Project Manager, System developer, Quality Assurance Staff $42.86 Database Test 6 days $200.00 16 Project Manager, System developer, Quality Assurance Staff $28.57 Training 10 days $1, 000.00 14   $142.86 Create system documentation 2 days $100.00   Project Manager, System developer, Testers $14.29 Create training materials 3 days $500.00 19 Project Manager, System developer, Testers $71.43 Train users 5 days $400.00 20 Project Manager, System developer, Testers $57.14 Implementation 10 days $1, 000.00 18   $142.86 Determine hardware needs 1 days $100.00   Project Manager, Technical Consultant, Installers $14.29 Determine software needs 1 days $200.00 23 Project Manager, Technical Consultant, Installers $28.57 Develop Implementation Plan 2 days $300.00 24 Project Manager, Technical Consultant, Installers $42.86 Installation 6 days $400.00 25 Project Manager, Technical Consultant, Installers $57.14 Post-Implementation Verify System 5 days $500.00 22   $71.43 Project Wrap-up 1 days $1, 800.00   Project Manager, Technical Consultant $257.14 Obtain Final Project Signoff 2 days $1, 800.00 28 Project Manager, Technical Consultant $257.14 Document and Review Lessons Learned 2 days $1, 800.00 29 Project Manager, Technical Consultant $257.14           Total 90 Days $10, 000       4.2-Schedule Allocation Below I will outline some assessments of the schedule regarding the overall project. 4.3-CPA [Critical Path Analysis] This section will present a detailed analysis of the project activities through the Critical Path Analysis. This section will also present the network diagram of the overall project tasks and activities. Sr. Activity Name On Critical Path Activity Time Earliest Start Earliest Finish Latest Start Latest Finish Slack (LS-ES) 1 Requirement Yes 10 0 10 0 10 0 2 Design Yes 10 10 20 10 20 0 3 Development Yes 35 20 55 20 55 0 4 Quality Assurance Yes 10 55 65 55 65 0 5 Training Yes 10 65 75 65 75 0 6 Implementation Yes 10 75 85 75 85 0 7 Post-Implementation Verify System Yes 5 85 90 85 90 0 Project Completion Time = 90 Days Number of Critical Path(s) = 1 4.4-Network Diagram Figure 1- Network Diagram 4.5-Resource Allocation The table given below outlines main resources of the project and their allocation to the project activities. Project Activities Time Resource Human Resource Needed Time Needed Start Time End Time Project Team Requirement 10 days 1-Feb-10 12-Feb-10 Project Manager, Database Developer, Software Engineer, Scheduler, Trainer User interview and meetings 5 days 1-Feb-10 5-Feb-10 Take functional non-functional requirement 5 days 8-Feb-10 12-Feb-10 Design 10 days 15-Feb-10 26-Feb-10 Project Manager, Software Engineer, Scheduler Functional Specifications 1 day 15-Feb-10 15-Feb-10 Technical Specifications 2 days 16-Feb-10 17-Feb-10 Database Design 5 days 18-Feb-10 24-Feb-10 Interfaces Design 2 days 25-Feb-10 26-Feb-10 Development 35 days 1-Mar-10 16-Apr-10 Project Manager, Database Developer, Software Engineer Front End 10 days 1-Mar-10 12-Mar-10 Database 10 days 15-Mar-10 26-Mar-10 Back-End system Coding 10 days 29-Mar-10 9-Apr-10 Reports 5 days 12-Apr-10 16-Apr-10 Quality Assurance 10 days 19-Apr-10 30-Apr-10 Project Manager, Database Developer, Software Engineer Verify design and functionality 2 days 19-Apr-10 20-Apr-10 Perform Integration Test 2 days 21-Apr-10 22-Apr-10 Database Test 6 days 23-Apr-10 30-Apr-10 Training 10 days 3-May-10 14-May-10 Create system documentation 2 days 3-May-10 4-May-10 Create training materials 3 days 5-May-10 7-May-10 Train users 5 days 10-May-10 14-May-10 Implementation 10 days 17-May-10 28-May-10 Project Manager, Database Developer, Software Engineer Determine hardware needs 1 day 17-May-10 17-May-10 Determine software needs 1 day 18-May-10 18-May-10 Develop Implementation Plan 2 days 19-May-10 20-May-10 Installation 6 days 21-May-10 28-May-10 Post-Implementation Verify System 5 days 31-May-10 4-Jun-10 Project Manager, Scheduler, Trainer Project Wrap-up 1 day 31-May-10 31-May-10 Obtain Final Project Signoff 2 days 1-Jun-10 2-Jun-10 Document and Review Lessons Learned 2 days 3-Jun-10 4-Jun-10 4.6-Budget Allocation The table given below demonstrates the budget allocation to the project teams: Project Team Member Work Time Total Cost Number of working Hour Project Manager $5.00/h $3,600.00 720 hrs Technical Consultant $5.00/h $1,400.00 280 hrs System Analyzer $5.00/h $800.00 160 hrs System developer $5.00/h $2,200.00 440 hrs System Designer $5.00/h $1,400.00 280 hrs Quality Assurance Staff $5.00/h $400.00 80 hrs Testers $5.00/h $400.00 80 hrs Installers $5.00/h $400.00 80 Rs 4.7- Gantt chart Below is the Gantt chart of the project. Figure 2- Gantt chart 5- Project Tracking Plan 5.1- Requirements Management For the effective requirement management we will track the project requirement and WBS. In this scenario we will tightly assess and analyze the project tasks and areas for effective fulfillment of the project requirements. 5.2- Schedule Control For the schedule control of the project we will effectively follow the critical path of the overall project tasks and activates. In this scenario the effective tracking and following the project tasks will offer us better support in managing the project activities. 5.3- Budget Control For project budget control we will need to pay more attention on the effective planning and management of the project risks associated with the overall tasks of the project activities. In this regard we will manage the project team performance and follow the project WBS for effective corporate handling and management. 5.4- Quality Control For this project we will implement the ISO specified system development standards. These will include the ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 system development standards. According to these system development standards we will require implementing the following attributes in our new system development functionalities application: Usability Security Efficiency 5.6- Reporting For this activity we will establish a weekly schedule for the meetings where we will discuss the potential problems and aspects regarding the project management and associated problems. These meetings will also cover discussions on problems and project risk management and budgetary handling aspects. Bibliography Burke, R. (1999). Project Management: Planning and Control Techniques. Chichester: Wiley. Cadle, J., & Yeates, D. (2001). Project Management for Information Systems, 3rd Edition. Harlow: Prentice-Hall. Gray, C., & Larson, E. (2006). Project Management, The Managerial Process. . New York: McGraw-Hill. Kerzner, H. (2006). Project management: A systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Lewis, J. P. (2006). Fundamentals of Project Management. New York: AMACOM. Read More